Socket



July 10, 1962 A. c. GREGSON SOCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 16, 1959 INVENTUR. ,4z WWO 650N BY 4; TUK/VEVS July 10, 1962 A. c. GREGSON 3,

SOCKET Original Filed March 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. BY I41 veeo U. Gemswv This invention relates to a socket for an electrical device and more particularly to a socket for an ultra-high frequency tube having coaxial electrode terminals.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial Number 22,057, entitled Socket," and filed April 13, 1960, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of Ser. No. 799,629, filed March 16,

1959, now abandoned.

One example of the type of tube with which the invention is particularly designed to cooperate is the 6299 tube which is a coaxial tube having cathode, grid and plate terminals in the form of coaxial rings longitudinally spaced apart to permit contact to be made thereto. While the 6299 tube is particularly adapted to be used in a coaxial line, the structure of the socket of the present invention enables it to be used aswell with other circuit arrangements.

In view of the foregoing it is the object of the present invention to provide a socket adapted to removably mount tubes having coaxial electrode terminals.

This and further objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of the invention to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like components in the several views are identified by the same reference numeral.

In the drawings:

3344,1139 Patented July 10, 1962 2 substantially all of the frame of the open area of the U-shaped plate not covered by the plate itself.

Referring ,now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the tube 11 with which the socket is particularly adapted to work hasa cylindrical anode terminal 12, a cylindrical grid terminal 13 of a larger diameter than the anode terminal 12 and provided with an outwardly extending flange 14, a cylindrical cathode terminal 15, and a cylindrical heater terminal 16.

The socket comprises a plate 17 which has bent-over end tabs 18 and 19 serving as handles to slide the plate into and out of the opening in a U-shaped frame 21. The plate 17 also has an opening 22 in the form of a circular aperture just slightly larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the grid terminal 13. Around this aperture are several resilient contact fingers 23 which extend generally inward toward the axis of the aperture 22 but away from the plane of the plate 17 so as to improve the resilience of the fingers 23. These fingers 23 are held in place by a plate 24 riveted or otherwise afiixed to the plate 17.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the socket of the present invention with the plate partially removed from the U-shaped frame and with the tube entirely removed, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the reverse side of the socket illustrated in FIG. 1 with the tube and plate both in place, and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the socket taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

Briefly stated, the socket of the present invention comprises a plate having an opening large enough for part of the tube to pass through but small enough so that the outermost flange of the largest diameter terminal cannot pass through but will rest on the sides of the opening. A locking member is attached to one side of the plate to lock the tube into place by clamping down upon the opposite surface of the outermost flange to hold the flange firmly against the plate. On the opposite side of the plate from the locking member is a spring contact structure consisting of a plurality of resilient fingers pointing generally inward so as to bear upon and to make good electrical contact with the conductive structure of the largest diameter terminal.

The plate, including both the locking device and the contact spring structure, forms a separate chassis which slides into a U-shaped frame structure that is in turn connected by mutual supporting means to other resilient contact members that connect with other terminals of the tube. The U-shaped frame has internal dimensions large enough to permit the plate to be slipped in and small enough so that the plate substantially fills up the interior of the frame. Resilient holding members are attached to the frame and extend toward the interior thereof to receive and to hold the plate by pressing upon the edges thereof and these resilient members cover up The U-shaped frame 21 has several pairs of juxtaposed spring members 25-27 to grip the edges of the plate 17. The upper ends of the members 25 and 27 are bent outward as indicated by reference characters 28 and 29 respectively to facilitate the entry of the plate between the members 25 and 27. Similarly, the upper edges of the members 26 are also curved outwardly for the same purpose.

The frame 21 is carried on a supporting structure 30 which also supports a plurality of resilient contacts of which contacts 31 and 32 are visible in this drawing. Contact 31 connects with the anode terminal 12 when the tube is in place in the plate 17 which, in turn, is in place in the frame 21. The contact member 32 is so located with respect to the frame 21 as to connect with the cathode terminal 15 of the tube. Normally, the contact members 31 and 32 are carried on insulating blocks 33 and 34, respectively, to insulate them electrically from the supporting structure 30.

FIG. 2 shows the other side of the socket, including a typical form of locking member 35 to hold the tube 11 in place in the plate 17. This locking member 35 is in the form of a yoke having a pair of arms 36 and 37 spaced apart 'sufliciently to slide over the body of the tube 11. However, the greatest distance between the arms 36 and 37 is less than the diameter of the flange 14 of the tube 11 so that when the yoke 35 is in place, as shown, the flange 14 is clamped between the arms 36 and 37 of the yoke and that portion of the plate 17 around the aperture 22 e In order to permit the tube to be withdrawn from the aperture 22 and a new tube to be inserted therein with a minimum of trouble the yoke 35 is allowed to slide freely over a limited range. The direction of sliding of the yoke 35 is in the same direction as the arms 36 and 37 and is controlled by a pair of guides38 and 39 in the form of tabs, or fingers, which may be bent upwardly and inwardly, that is, reverse-bent from the plate 17 itself. While these tabs 38 and 39 guide the sliding motion of the yoke 35, they do not, in the embodiment shown, limit the extent of the sliding motion. In order to keep the yoke 35 from being free to slide completely away from the plate 17 a pin 41) is inserted through an elongated slot 41 in the yoke 35 and is aflixed to the plate 17. Thus the yoke 35 is limited by the dimensions of the slot 41.

FIG. 2 also shows another resilient contact member 42 mounted on the insulating block 34 and located to make contact with the cylindrical heater terminal 16.

In order to hold the yoke 35 in place against the'fiange G 14 it is necessary to make frictional engagement between sliding movement of the yoke 35 as much as possible. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the socket of FIG. 2 to illustrate one of the features of the invention related to the ease of movement of theyokef It may be seen in FIG. 3 that the plate 17 is provided on the same side as the yoke 35 with a recessed area43 around the perimeter of the aperture 22. The diameter of the recessed area 43 is greater than the diameter of the flange 14 but the depth of the recessed area is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the flange 14 so that when the yoke 35 is moved downward in the guides 38 and 39, of which only guide 39 appears in FIG. 3, the side of the arms 36 and 37 facing the flange 14 bears upon the flange and frictionally engages it. In order for this frictional engagement to be possible the guides 38 and 39 must be bent close enough to the surface of the plate 17 to restrict the movement of the yoke 35 away from the plate 17. Similarly, the pin 40 may be provided with an enlarged head 44 to bear upon the surface of the yoke 35 adjacent the slot 41 the two. At the same time it is desirable to facilitate the device cooperating substantially to fill the opening in said frame.

2. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a plate having an opening large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by said plate, a locking member cooperating with said plate to hold said device in place by clamping on the other side of said one terminal, a plurality of resilient contact members attached so that the yoke 35 has to be forced into place over the H flange 14 by pressure on the bent-over handle 45. This handle lies between the tabs 18 and 19 when the yoke 35 is locked over the flange 14.

As may be seen particularly in FIG. 3, the resilient contact members 31, 32 and 42 bear upon the same side of the respective electrode terminals 12, and 16. The direction of pressure of these contact members against their respective electrode terminals may be increased as much as desired by increasing the height of the insulating blocks 33 and 34 or by increasing the spring force of the contact members themselves. This permits somewhat easier adjustment of the spring pressure than would be possible if the contact members made only sliding engagement with their respective electrode terminals instead of making head-on engagement as shown.

It is to be noted that the socket ofthe present invention is primarily adapted for. use in high frequency applications. As a result, and as shown in the drawings, all leads and connections are made as short as possible in order to eliminate or minimize lead inductance. For example, because of its construction the socket of FIG. 1 is ideally suited for a grounded-grid amplifier.

It is also to be noted that the elements 17, 2.1 and 3th of the socket of the present invention form a ground plane in conjunction with the sides, ends and top of a finished receptacle in which the socket is mounted. In this manner the circuits on either side of the plane formed by the elements 17 and 21 are effectively shielded from one another, from leakage and from internal or external RF high frequency usages. The tube 11 is therefore essentially utilized to, feed through aground plane between two isolated circuits.

, If the socket of the present invention is used in a circuit I where it is desired to maintain the grid above ground, a material such as mica could be inserted between the elements 17 and 24 to form a capacitive connection to the ground plane. 7

What is claimed is: I

l. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a plate having an opening large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by'said plate, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the opening in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a frame having an opening thereon, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an'edge of said plate, said plate being slidable in said clamping means, and said plate with said electronic radiation, as is well known to be'desirable in many ultraaround the opening in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a frame having an opening thereon, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an edge of said plate, said plate being slidaole in said clamping means, and said plate with said electronic device cooperating substantially to fill the opening in said frame.

3. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a plate having an opening large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by said plate, a locking member cooperating with said plate to hold said device in place. by clamping on the other side of said one terminal, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the opening in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a U-shaped frame, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an edge of said plate, said plate being slidable in said clamping means, and said plate with said electronic device cooperating substantially to fill the opening in said frame.

4. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a plate having an aperture large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by said plate, a slidable locking member cooperating with said plate to hold said device in place by. clamping on the other side of said one terminal, guide means adjacent to said locking member to control and limit the sliding motion thereof, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the aperture in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a U- shaped frame, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an edge of said plate, said plate being slidable in said clamping means, and said plate with said electronic device cooperating substantially to fill the opening in said U-sh'aped frame.

5. A socket for an electronic de'vice'having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a plate having an aperture large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal, whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by said plate, a slida'ble locking yoke having a pair of arms, guiding means on saidplate to control said yoke to slide a limited amount in the direction of said arms whereby said yoke cooperates with said plate to hold said device in place by clamping on the other side of said one terminal, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the aperture in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a U-shaped frame, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an edge ing substantially to fill the open area in said U-shaped frame.

6. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced concentric terminals, one of said terminals having a portion extending laterally outward a greater distance than the other terminals, said socket comprising a conductive plate having an aperture large enough to permit a portion of said device to pass through but smaller than the portion of said one terminal, whereby the peripheral portion of said one terminal is held by said plate, a slidable locking yoke having a pair of arms, a pair of guide tabs bent up from one side of said plate to control the motion of said yoke over a limited range of motion in the direction of said arms whereby said yoke cooperates with said plate to hold said device in place by clamping on the other side of said one terminal, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the aperture in said plate and bearing resiliently upon said one terminal to make connection therewith, a conductive U- shaped frame, conductive spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp the edges of said plate, said plate being slidable in said clamping means, and said plate and said clamping means cooperating substantially to fill the open area in said U-shaped frame to form a substantially unbroken conductive sheet.

7. A socket for a vacuum tube having a plurality of electrode terminals in the form of longitudinally spaced concentric cylindrical members, one of said members intermediate the ends thereof having a larger diameter than any of the other members and having an outwardly extending flange, said socket comprising a conductive plate having an aperture with a diameter greater than the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members but smaller than the outer diameter of said flange, a slidable locking yoke, means to attach said yoke to said plate adjacent to said aperture to allow limited sliding movement of said yoke to lock said flange in place between the arms of said yoke and said plate, said means for attaching said yoke comprising a pair of return-bent fingers extending from said plate alongside said yoke, a plurality of inwardly extending, flexible, conductive spring fingers attached to said plate on the reverse side from said yoke, said fingers extending toward the axis of said aperture and away from said plate to make firm, resilient contact with the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members, a U-shaped, conductive, supporting frame for said plate, said frame having interior dimensions slightly larger than said plate to permit said plate to be placed in and substantially to fill the interior of said frame, a plurality of juxtaposed, resilient, conductive members at tached to said frame and extending inwardly thereof to receive and to grip the edges of said plate, the edges of said conductive member-s extending in the direction of the outwardly extending sides of said U-shaped frame being flared outward to permit said plate to be slid therebetween, a support member attached to said frame, and a plurality of resilient contact members supported by said member and exerting direct, resilient pressure on said electrode terminals.

8. A socket for a vacuum tube having a plurality of electrode terminals in the form of longitudinally spaced yoke to lock said flange in place between the arms of said yoke and said recessed region, said means forattaching said yoke comprising a pair of return-bent fingers extending from said plate alongside said yoke, said yoke having a handle in the form of a bent-over end opposite said arms to facilitate movement of said yoke, a plurality of inwardly extending, flexible, conductive spring fingers attached to said plate on the reverse side from concentric cylindrical members, one of said members intermediate the ends thereof having a larger diameter than any of the other members and having an outwardly extending flange, said socket comprising a flat conductive plate having an aperture with a diameter greater than the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members but smaller than the outer diameter of said flange, a recessed region around the periphery of said aperture on one side of said plate to receive said flange, a slidable locking yoke, means to attach said yoke to said plate adjacent to said aperture and on the same side as said recessed region to allow limited sliding movement of said said yoke, said fingers extending toward the axis of said aperture and way from said plate to make firm, resilient contact with the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members, a U-shaped conductive, supporting frame for said plate, said frame having interior dimensions slightly larger than said plate to permit said plate to be placed in and substantially to fill the interior of said frame, a plurality of juxtaposed, resilient, conductive members attached to said frame and extending inwardly thereof to receive and to grip the edges of said plate, the edges of said pairsof conductive members extending in the direction of the outwardly extending sides of said U-shaped frame being flared outward to permit said plate to be slid therebetween, a support member attached to said frame, and a plurality of resilient contact members supported by said support member and exerting direct, resilient pressure on said electrode terminals. I

9. A socket fora coaxial vacuum tube having a plurality of electrode terminals in the form of longitudinally spaced concentric cylindrical members, one of said members intermediate the ends thereof having a larger diameter than any of the other members and having an outwardly extending flange, said socket comprising a flat conductive plate having an aperture with a diameter greater than the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members but smaller than the outer diameter of said flange, a recessed region around the peripheiyof said aperture on one side of said plate to receive said flange, a slidable locking yoke, means to attach said yoke to said plate adjacent to said aperture and on the same side as said recessed region to allow limited sliding movement of said yoke to lock said flange in place between the arms of said yoke and said recessed region, said means for attaching said yoke comprising a pair of return-bent fingers extending from said plate alongside said yoke, an elongated slot in said yoke extending parallel to said arms, and a pin aflixed to said plate and extending through said slot, said yok'e having a handle in the form of a bent-over end opposite said arms to facilitate movement of said yoke, a plurality of inwardly extending, flexible, conductive spring fingers attached to said plate on the reverse side from said yoke, said fingers extending toward the axis of said aperture and away from said plate to make firm, resilient contact with the cylindrical portion of the largest of said members, a U-shaped conductive, supporting frame for said plate, said frame having interior dimensions slightly larger than said plate to permit said plate to be placed in and substantially to fill the interior of said frame, a plurality of pairs of juxtaposed, resilient, conductive members attached to said frame and extending inwardly thereof to receive and to grip the edges of said plate, the edges of said pairs of conductive members extending in the direction of the outwardly extending sides of said U-shaped frame being flared outward to permit said plate to be slid therebetween, a support member attached to said frame, and a plurality of resilient contact members supported by said support member and exerting direct, resilient pressure with one side of said elect-rode terminals of said tube when said plate is in said frame, said resilient contact members being so located as to exert said pressure in the outward direction parallel to said sides of said U-shaped frame.

10. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, said socket comprising: a plate member having an opening large enough to encircle a portion of said device; resilient contact means adjacent to said opening to bear against one of said terac tense 7 minals when said device is placed in said opening; and means cooperating with said plate member to secure said device mechanically in place within said opening whereby said'device and said plate member become'etfectively a single unit; a frame member having an opening thereon, conductive resilient slides attached to one of said members andengaging edges of the other of said members to permit said plate member to be inserted into and withdrawn from the open space of said frame member and to make good electrical contact with said frame member; said plate member being slidable in said frame member, and said plate member with said electronic device therein cooperating to substantially fill the opening in said frame member. I

1 11. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, said socket comprising: a plate member having an opening large enough to encircle a portion of said device; resilient contact means adjacent to said opening to bear against one of said tertminals when said device is placed in said opening; and means cooperating with said plate member to secure said device mechanically in place Within said opening whereby said, device and said plate member become effectively a single unit; a generally U-shaped member, conductive resilient slides attached to one of said members and engaging edges of the other of said members to permit said plate member to be inserted into and withdrawn from the open space of said U-shaped member and to make good electrical contact with said U-shaped member; a

' plurality of resilient, spaced contacts fixedly mounted with respect to said U-shaped member and spaced to make electrical contact with others of said longitudinally spaced terminals when said plate member is inserted into said U-shaped member. v

' 12. A socket for an electronic device having a plurality of longitudinally spaced terminals, said socket comprising a plate member having an opening large enough to fit around a portion of said device, a plurality of resilient contact members attached around the opening in said plate and bearing resiliently upon one of said terminals to make connection therewith, a frame having an opening thereon, spring clamping means attached to said frame to grasp an edge of said plate, said plate being slidable in said clamping means, and said plate with said electronic device cooperating substantially to fill the opening in said frame.

Powell July 16, 1957 

